It is with great enthusiasm that I announce the appointment of Philip Evan Schreur, currently Head of the Metadata Department, as Interim Assistant University Librarian for Technical and Access Services following the retirement of Catherine M. Tierney. Phil is an expert in modern and emerging metadata standards and issues. Furthermore, he comes with Catherine Tierney’s strong endorsement for his ability to undertake this new role without missing a beat.

A Stanford alumnus (Ph.D., Musicology, 1987), Phil has spent most of his career at Stanford, though with an early interlude as music cataloger at UC Davis and UC Berkeley. He returned to Stanford in 1994 as Head of Technical Services at the Music Library. He moved to the more expansive role of Head of Cataloging at the height of re-engineering then put in place protocols for elimination and avoidance of backlogs. Still within SUL, Phil’s next interlude was at HighWire Press, working for five years developing the HighWire ontology and taxonomy, while acquiring a rich understanding of commercial metadata management.

Reprising his role as Catalog Department Head in 2005, Phil brought with him expanded ambitions for metadata creation and management – and renamed his unit the Metadata Department. Phil’s advocacy for wise metadata management in Digital Library projects and programs has been very successful. His success with expanding his staff’s expertise and their opportunities for enhanced contributions is renowned. As a seasoned manager, he manages all aspects of his department with skill and great instincts.

Phil is a recognized expert in national circles in modernizing cataloging and in a variety of issues involved with Linked Data. Cath Tierney will work diligently with Phil for the next couple of months to ensure a smooth transition.

We are in terrific hands with Phil at the helm of Technical Services, please join me in congratulating Phil and welcoming him in his new role.